Queen Cages

[Ben Framed]

A just for curiosity, and a just because I wonder question. I have noticed when I order queens, the wooden queen cage has a mesh size that seems to be larger than window screen. It looks to be more like the screen of a package. Wonder why the breeders do not use the smaller mesh window screen?  Is it because the nurse bees on the outside can not feed through regular window screen? What is the mesh # of the queen cage screen? Thanks

[van from Arkansas]

Count the squares per inch: either 12 or 16.  Number 8 is 1/8 inch or eight squares per inch.

[Ben Framed]

Count the squares per inch: either 12 or 16.  Number 8 is 1/8 inch or eight squares per inch.

👍🏻.  Thanks

[amymcg]

My bet, and this is purely conjecture, is that hardware cloth is more durable and less likely to tear than window screen.


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[AR Beekeeper]

My memory tells me the screen is seven mesh, and it is used to give the bees better contact with the queen.  Regular window screen is 16 mesh and would give very little contact.

[Ben Framed]

Thanks Amy and Mr AR. Yes 7 to 16 is quite a difference. Wonder where, beside beekeeping number 7 is used any idea?